Age of the Guild Special Mushrooms Unit
Written By J Tags Tarpey
Mushroom Illustrations By Amy Richards
Age of the Guild is a rules-light RPG set in the world where mushrooms grow on elemental crystals like Earth and Fire. And everyone has a mycelia network of magic fungi integrated into their bodies. So everyone has magical elemental super powers, like Fire Breath, or the ability to climb things like Spiderman ("Earth Melding").
Players play as a party from The Order of Mycology who have been dispatched to Astrid & Dotty's Organic Farm, Inn & Tavern to investigate an infestation of Night Tangles (an ancient monster thought to be contained to just The Shadow Realm). Dotty blames the evil Table Company. The party will have to decide who they should trust.
Setting
The Valley of the Guild
Located halfway between Mountain View and Farm Town, The Valley of the Guild is a farming community that prioritizes the well-being of everyone in the community. The valley is lush, with moss and mushrooms growing on the limbs of old, thick, twisted tree branches. It's known throughout the world as the best place for growing magic mushrooms.
The Quest
Astrid and Dotty, well respected members of the community, run an organic farm, inn and tavern that is known for growing the best magic mushrooms in the valley. But, they have a problem. Signs of Night Tangles have been discovered around the farm. Nigh Tangles are a type of Naturally-occurring Fungal-based Thing (NFT) that most people believe to be contained to the Shadow Realm. Night Tangles are an incredibly invasive species. The last time they were seen in the valley was during Second Age, back when they had infested the entire planet.
Dotty believes this recent Night Tangle infestation has been caused by the Table Company, who just opened a new factory farm in the valley. Dotty, who opposed its construction, believes the Table Company is using Shadow Magic recklessly and has reported that to The Order of Mycology.
The Order of Mycology, who is responsible for regulating Shadow Magic, has assembled a Special Mushrooms Unit to go investigate the claim. Their quest begins at Astrid and Dotty's Organic Farm, Inn and Tavern, where Dotty will meet them for brunch. She, and the members of the Special Mushrooms Unit will get everyone up to speed on Night Tangles, Shadow Magic, and everything else.
The SPecial Mushrooms Unit
Cuda
Mycelial Element: Water
Job: Safety & Occupational Health Specialist
Vibe: Likeable know-it-all
Cuda has worked for The Order their entire life and has a love-hate relationship with their job. They love working for an science-focused institution that serves the people, but hates the inefficiencies of a large organization.
Dragon
Mycelial Element: Fire/Earth, aka "Tektonic"
Job: Security Supervisor
Vibe: Doomsday prepper that is really into physical well-being
Dragon is a devout member of “The Way of Light,” a religious group that believes the Shadow Realm is evil and Night Tangles are a serious threat to our realm. Many people, including most people in The Order, dismiss their concerns as “Religious Fear Mongering.” Dragon takes their job as a Security Supervisor very seriously and sees the protection of the Realm and all its inhabitants as a moral duty.
Fern
Mycelial Element: Earth
Job: Monster Hunter
Vibe: Survivalist, nature lover, outdoorsy
Fern works odd jobs throughout the realm, sometimes running dangerous errands for wealthy clients or subduing large monsters that terrorize small villages. Fern does not like the term “Monster” and prefers the more scientifically correct term, “Naturally-occurring Fungal-based Thing.”
Wren
Mycelial Element: Air
Job: Archer
Vibe: Laid-back high-achieving stoner
Wren is high on life and loves to experience anything and everything it has to offer. This could mean indulging in Vibe Shrooms of every variety, or appreciating the beauty of a single dead leaf. But don’t let their laid back attitude fool you. When it comes to archery, Wren is dialed in. Wren practices endlessly and is capable of some rather impressive trick shots.
Indigo
Mycelial Element: Fire
Job: Owner/Manager, The Drunken Pickle
Vibe: Streetwise and reliable friend
Indigo is the owner and manager of the Drunken Pickle, a family-owned pub that has served downtown Farm Town for over a century. Indigo took over the pub after their mother, Violet, passed away a few years ago. Indigo is well-liked, but no one loves them more than their pet sand cat. The two met while Indigo was scattering Violet’s ashes in their family’s ancestral home, the Sands of Time Desert.
How To Play
Setup
1 host | 3-5 players
2 sessions (2 hours each sessions)
Everything the host needs in is the Hosting Guide. The host will be responsible for printing our character sheets and field guides for players.
RPG Rules System
Age of the Guild runs on a simple D10-based system. Most of the time, players can simply roleplay through a situation without rolling any dice. But, when the players or the host thinks the situation calls for a dice roll, players roll a D10 plus or minus up to three, based on the situation.
A total of 9 or more is "above average." A total of 5 or less is considered "below average." If a player rolls a 1 or a 10, they will epically fail or succeed. The host and the players will roleplay the situation based on those results.
Example:
A player wants their character to jump a great distance. That player rolls 1d10 + STRENGTH.
If the total is 8 or less, they will probably not make the jump because a great distance is too far for the average person to jump.
Magic Mushrooms
Magic mushrooms, or shrooms, are mushrooms that grow from elemental crystals (Earth, Fire, Air, Water). The shrooms take on magical properties, based on the element. For example, a shroom that grows on a Fire Crystal may grant the ability to breath fire when eaten.
For a complete list, see the Magic Mushroom Field Guide (illustrated by Amy Richards Illustrations:
Where to Buy
Age of the Guild: Special Mushrooms Unit is coming soon to drivethruRPG! If you want to help with the development of the game and playtest the game as a host or player, please let me know via email (jeremy@tarpeygames.com) or discord (https://discord.gg/Gqr7AQeA).